Oklahoma Democrats Blast Budget Agreement

Ashli Sims, News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A budget battle is developing as state Democrats slam Governor Fallin's first budget deal. They're blasting a 4 percent cut to education.

5/10/2011 Related Story: Proposed Oklahoma Budget Includes Cuts To Education, Public Safety

Senate Democrats say tough times call for us all to buckle down. But they say this budget deal calls for those already hurting to sacrifice more.

"What's clear by the Governor, the Pro Tem, and the Speaker is they're saying to the millions of families in this state who's kids go to public school and higher ed that you're going to shoulder this burden," Senator Andrew Rice, (D) Oklahoma City, said.

Governor Mary Fallin says her budget asks everyone to tighten their belts. But Senate Democrats say Oklahoma's students are the ones who will really feel the pinch

Governor Fallin and Republican lawmakers are plugging a half a billion dollar budget hole.

State agencies could be cut from one to nine percent. Education is taking a four percent hit, which state Democrats say could lead to school layoffs and college tuition hikes.

"I have two in college right now so I hope the tuition increases don't occur. We tried to do everything we can to take lesser cuts to education," Fallin said.

"Well she has more power than anyone in this entire building to prevent tuition increases," Rice said.

But with a Republican supermajority in both chambers, the Democrats admit there's little they can do.

"What's been made very clear all session is the minority party in the senate is not relevant," Rice said. "There's no Brad Henry to save you. There's no veto sustainings to save you."

Senate Democrats say they know sacrifices need to be made. They just don't understand why the money couldn't have come from tax breaks that don't work.